Intravascular imaging for percutaneous coronary intervention on bifurcation and unprotected left main lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The efficacy of intravascular imaging (IVI) guidance for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) represents a contemporary hot topic. PCI in patients with bifurcation coronary lesions and unprotected left main lesions offers specific challenges that, theoretically, may particularly benefit from IVI.Objective To compare the clinical outcomes between IVI and angiography guidance for PCI in bifurcation and unprotected left main lesions.Methods Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing IVI (with either intravascular ultrasound or optical coherence tomography) with angiography to guide PCI in patients with bifurcation and unprotected left main lesions were searched in PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Two investigators independently extracted study data. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated using the random-effects model with inverse variance weighting and the 95% CIs with the modified Knapp-Hartung-Sidik-Jonkman method. The primary outcome was target vessel failure (TVF).Results A total of seven RCTs were included, collecting data on 2494 patients in the analysis for bifurcation lesions and 1107 patients in the analysis for unprotected left main lesions. The mean follow-up duration ranged from 12 to 36 months. Compared with angiography guidance, IVI guidance significantly reduced TVF both in bifurcation lesions (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.92) and unprotected left main lesions (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.84). The number needed to treat to prevent one TVF with IVI was 27 in bifurcation lesions PCI and 11 in unprotected left main PCI.Conclusion In patients undergoing PCI on bifurcation and unprotected left main lesions, IVI guidance significantly reduces the risk of TVF compared with angiography guidance.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024580321.